This is just one example of one of the greatest Jazz singers to have ever performed and recorded. In her autobiography “Lady Sings the Blues” Holiday indicated an argument with her mother over money led to the song. She states that during the argument her mother said “God bless the child that’s got his own.” The anger over the incident led her to turn that line into a starting point for a song.
In his 1990 book Jazz Singing, Will Friedwald indicates it as “sacred and profane” as it references the Bible while indicating that religion seems to have no effect in making people treat each other better. The lyrics refer to an unspecified Biblical verse: “Them that’s got shall have, them that’s not shall lose, so the Bible says, and it still is news. . . . “.
There are volumes of information about Billie Holiday, and it would be a disservice for me to try and give any more than a very brief overview of one of the most respected jazz singers who ever performed. It would be well worth one’s time to explore all the available information about her to discover what a truly rare talent she had.
Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915 to an unwed young mother, they were abandoned by her father shortly after her birth. By 9 years old she was in juvenile court because of truancy, and sent to a Catholic reform school. Raised by several different family members for most of her childhood, she was frequently in and out of terrible experiences. But fate would intervene and, at 17 years old in 1932, she began singing in clubs. Becoming noticed for her vibrant and passionate singing voice, she found her way to working with some of the biggest names in Swing and Jazz over the years: Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald.
She made her last appearances and recordings in early 1959. Having made well over 100 recordings, she died on July 17 the same year. She left the world a legacy unrivalled and influenced artists ever since.
I’ll leave you with one more example of her immense talent, a song which is still covered by many.
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